Extra oral arch spring force

ABSTRACT

An extra oral force spring attachment comprising a coil spring and a tubular retainer affixed near each end of an extra oral arch wire. The tubular retainer is endwardly open to receive one end of the spring and is treated to retain the spring. Each end of the arch wire is measured and cut to precisely fit within the buccal tube of a tooth band when the spring is compressed against the tube.

United States Patent [191 [111 3,909,945 Foxman Oct. 7, 1975 EXTRA ORAL ARCH SPRING FORCE [76] Inventor: David Foxman, 333 Gribbel Road, Primary pe shock wyncote Pa. 19095 Attorney, Agent, or FzrmWelser, Stapler & Sprvak [22] Filed: June 11, 1974 [57] ABSTRACT 211 Appl. No; 478,372

An extra oral force spring attachment comprising a coil spring and a tubular retainer affixed near each [52] [1.5. Cl.2 32/14 1); 32/14 D end of an extra Oral arch wire. The tubular retainer is [51] Int. Cl. A61C 7/00 endwardly Open to receive one end of the Spring and is [58] Field Of Search 32/14 D, 14 E, 14 A treated to retain the Spring Each end of the arch wire is measured and cut to precisely fit within the buccal [56] References Cted tube of a tooth band when the spring is compressed UNITED STATES PATENTS against the tube. 3,293,747 12/1966 Denholtz 32/14 A 3,340,613 9/1967 Woskin 32/14 D 8 Clams 8 Draw-mg Flgures US. Patent Oct. 7,1975 3,909,945

EXTRA ORAL ARCH SPRING FORCE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to the field of orthodontic appliances. and more particularly. is directed to an improved extra oral arch incorporating a spring force.

It is well known to correct faulty occlusion by moving one or more teeth relative to the other teeth. This has been conventionally accomplished by applying a directed force directly upon the tooth or teeth to be moved. One well known technique for applying the necessary forces employs an arch wire which extends around the upper or lower tooth arch and which is connected to the teeth to be moved. The arch wire is so formed and held that it works either through its own inherent flexural stress reactions or by the application of exterior forces thereto to bring the selected teeth into proper relationship to the others. Extra oral devices are normally of the type in which the teeth are placed in traction by employing a connecting wire bow which extends back along the sides of the face and which terminates rearwardly in right and left hooks. An elastic head band or neck band tensions the hooks to thereby transmit the forces to the arch wire which in turn acts directly upon the teeth to be moved. I

It has been common practice in the art to provide tooth encircling bands on the selected teeth and to affix buccal tubes to the bands. Then the ends of the arch wires were suitably bentto enter the buccal tubes for force application purposes. Examples of prior art orthodontic practices can be found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,207,566, 3,315,359, 3,119,182 and 3,772,789.

The practice of employing elastic head or neck bands or similar tensioning devices has inherent disadvantages in that it is difficult to establish precisely the desired amount of traction. Further, the prior art types of devices can be pulled beyond the point of no return, in which case, they no longer exert any traction. In other cases, prior workers have frequently found that the amount of movement in the tension device required to develop a given amount of traction on the orthodontic appliance has been unsatisfactory. When more traction was required, the more the head or neck band had to be stretched, a condition which resulted in frequent length adjustments to the band to compensate for the increased length.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION the range of 0.025 to 0.060 o.d. A length of tubing having the same inside diameter as the outside diameter of the arch wire overfits the ends of the arch wire and initially is a tight sliding fit thereon. The length of tubing I is endwardly flared to provide a tapered socket within which is seated one end of a coil spring. The end of the flared tubing is crimped, bent or otherwise treated to secure the spring within the socket to thereby form the spring force and to prevent spring disengagement. Each free end of the extra oral arch wire is slid through a buccal tube which is conventionally affixed to a molar tooth band so that the anterior portions of the extra oral arch position approximately one-quarter of an inch away from the anterior tooth. The spring force including the associated flared socket is moved on the extra oral arch wire back to the molar tooth until the spring force is compressed and contacts the buccal tube. The spring force is then moved mesially from this point a distance of approximately 3 to 5 millimeters and then the cylindrical section of the flared socket is welded, soldered or otherwise securely affixed to the arch wire. The extra oral arch is then reapplied to the mouth and the spring is compressed to establish an extra oral arch spring force. The pressure developed by the neck or head strap in conjunction with the forces applied directly by the spring force combine to drive the molar teeth distally.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved extra oral arch spring force of the type set forth. v

It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel extra oral arch spring force that can be simply constructed using readily available materials.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel extra oral arch spring force including spring retaining means that can be simply made to provide complete spring control that is not subject to adjustment by the patient.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel extra oral arch spring force that includes a coil spring and a spring retaining means which may be in the form of a flared socket, the flared socket serving to retain the spring in association with extra oral arch wire.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel extra oral arch spring force including a coil spring and a flared socket associated with the arch wire wherein the end of the socket is inwardly crimped to lock one end of the spring onto the arch wire.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel extra oral arch spring force that is simple in design, inexpensive in manufacture and trouble free when in use.

Other objects and a fuller understanding of the invention will be had by referring to the following description and claims of a preferred embodiment thereof, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views and in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS HO. 1 is a top plan view of the invention as applied to an extra oral arch wire.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, exploded, perspective view of the invention.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, cross sectional view taken along Line 33 of FIG. 1, looking in tthe direction of the arrows.

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view taken along Line 44 of HO. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. Sis a side elevational view of a modified spring force construction, partially broken away to disclose details of interior construction.

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of a modified spring force construction, partially broken away to disclose details of interior construction.

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of another modified spring force construction.

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of another modified spring force construction.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION Although specific terms are used in the following description for the sake of clarity, these terms are intended to refer only to the particular structure of my invention selected for illustration in the drawings, and are not intended to define or limit the scope of the invention.

Referring now to the drawings, I show in FIG. 1 an extra oral arch wire 10 which is preferably fabricated of 0.045 or 0.036 o.d. stainless steel wire. A connecting how 12 conventionally terminates rcarwardly in right and left hooks l4, 16 for connection to an elastic head band or neck band (not shown). A flared socket I8 is initially a sliding fit on each end of the wire 10 and preferably is formed of stainless steel tubing having inside diameter corresponding in size to the outside diameter of the wire 10. For example, if the arch wire 10 has an outside diameter of 0.045, the flared socket 18 should be formed of 0.045 tubing. A coil spring 20 encircles the wire 10 and is retained thereon by action of the flared socket 18 as hereinafter more fully set forth. The spring force of the present invention is applied directly against a conventional buccal tube 22 of a conventional tooth band 24 to aid in urging a molar tooth 26 distally.

Referring now to FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, the flared socket I8 is formed of a length of tubing, for example, 0.045 or 0.036 i.d. tubing and includes a hollow cylindrical section 28 approximately 3 millimeters in length and an integral, communicating flared section 30 approximately 6 millimeters in length which extends distally thereof. The flared section 30 defines an interior space 56 between the flared socket 18 and the arch wire 10 of sufficient size to receive therein one end of the coil spring 20. The distal end of the flared section 30 is inwardly crimped or otherwise bent to form a plurality of bent jaws 32 which serve to grip and retain one end of the coil spring 20. The end of the flared section 30 is preferably cut or otherwise machined to form a plurality of slots 34 which define the adjacent jaws 32 from each other and which facilitate the bending or crimping operations.

In order to utilize the present invention, a pair of flared sockets 18 are slid over the respective ends of an extra oral arch wire with a coil spring 20 retained within each interior space 56 by means of the bentjaws 32. Suitable tooth bands 24 are conventionally applied to the selected molar teeth 26 in well known manner. The tooth bands arc-equipped with affixed buccal tubes 22 which have their openings 36 in alignment with the distal ends 38 of the extra oral arch wire 10. The extra oral arch 10 is then slid through the buccal tubes 22 so that the anterior portions 38 of the extra oral arch 10 stand approximately one-quarter of an inch away from the anterior teeth. With the extra oral arch so positioned, each flared socket l8 (and the connected coil spring 20) is moved on the extra oral arch 10 back to the selected molar tooth 26 until the spring 30 contacts and is compressed against the buccal tube 22. A mark is then scribed or otherwise made on the wire 10 to indicate the relative position of each flared socket 18. The extra oral arch 10 is then removed from association with the tooth 26 and the flared sockets 18 are moved mesially from the mark originally made (not shown), a distance of approximately 3 to 5 millimeters. The flared socket '18 is then welded, soldered or otherwise conventionally permanently affixed to the arch wire 10.

The extra oral arch 10 is then placed back in the mouth with the anterior portion 38 projecting through the respective right and left buccal tubes 22 and the device is adjusted so that each coil spring 20 is compressed. The excess anterior portions 38 protruding through the buccal tubes 22 can then be measured and subsequently cut off. The device is now ready for use and the extra oral arch can be placed in the mouth and the neck or head band (not shown) can be fitted. Thus, the forces generated by the extra oral spring force attachment compliments the forces applied by the head or neck band to combine in driving the molar teeth distally.

In FIG. 5 I show a modified device which incorporates a modified socket 40 having a cylindrical section 42 which is a sliding fit on the extra oral arch wire 10 until spot welded or soldered into position in the manner hereinbefore set forth. The cylindrical section 42 terminates forwardly in relatively square shoulders 44 which connect to the spring seat 46. The cylindrical section 42 is generally fabricated to the same inside diameter as the outside diameter of the wire 10 and the spring seat 46 is fabricated of sufficient diameter to receive the coil spring 20 therein. The end of the spring seat 46 is bent inwardly to form bent jaws 48 which serve to retain the spring 20 in association with the spring seat 46 during all periods of use. In the manner hereinbefore set forth, the anterior portions 38 of the wire 10 project beyond a spring 20 to seat within an opening 36 of a buccal tube 22.

Referring now to FIG. 6, I show another modified socket construction 50 which includes a cylindrical section 52 which is a sliding fit over the extra oral arch wire 10 and which may be soldered or spot welded thereto in the manner hereinbefore set forth. The cylindrical section 52 integrally connects to a flared section 54 which serves to receive one end of the coil spring 20 therein. In this embodiment, anterior socket space 56 which is defined between the flared section 54 and the wire 10 is filled with a plastic material 58, preferably an acrylic plastic which is poured to retain the spring 20 in the desired position after the cylindrical section 52 has been secured to the wire 10. If desired, theentire flared section 54 and a portion of the cylindrical section 62 may be covered with an acrylic or other plastic skin 60 to minimize the possibility of injuring the tissue.

In FIG. 7,I Show another modified extra oral arch spring force wherein a clamp type stainless steel retainer 62 is movable along the wire 10 until properly positioned. The retainer 52 includes a set screw 64 which can be tightened to retain the spring 20 in the desired position, leaving the anterior portion 38 of the wire 10 exposed for cooperation with the buccal tube 22 in the manner hereinbefore set forth.

In. FIG. 8, I show a similar construction wherein the spring 20 is retained in a desired position by applying a spring retaining means 66 which serves to connect one end of the spring 20 to the wire 10 in the desired location. It is contemplated that the spring retaining means can be in the form of any suitable easily formed, mechanical connection. For example, the end of the coil spring 20 can first be soldered to the tube in the desired location, and then the connection can be covered with an acrylic plastic. Optionally, the spring wire can be welded to the main arch wire 10 then wrapped with a brass wire and soldered for support. The entire joint should then be polished and smoothed off prior to use.

Although I have described the present invention with reference to the particular embodiments herein set forth, it is understood that the present disclosure has been made only by way of example and that numerous changes in the details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, the scope of the invention should not be limited by the foregoing specification, but rather only by the scope of the claims appended hereto.

I claim:

1. In an extra oral arch spring force for use with an extra oral arch wire, in moving a tooth, the combination of A. a socket associated with the extra oral arch wire,

1. said socket having a cylindrical portion in contact with the extra oral arch wire,

2. the inside diameter of the cylindrical portion being the same as the outside diameter of the wire whereby the socket is in tight, sliding engagement over the wire;

B. a spring retained on the extra oral arch wire,

l. said spring having a first end and a second end,

2. said first end contacting the said socket and the second end being biased in the direction of the tooth; and

c. means to retain the first end of the spring in contact with the socket,

l. the said means being integral with the socket.

2. The extra oral arch spring force of claim 1 wherein the said means to retain includes a flared portion formed in the socket, the first end of the spring being positioned within the flared portion.

3. The extra oral arch spring force of claim 2 wherein the said flared portion of the socket is endwardly bent to provide inwardly bent jaws, the said jaws engaging the spring at the first end to retain the spring in association with the socket.

4. In an extra oral arch spring force for use with an extra orzal arch wire in moving a tooth, the combination of A. a socket associated with the extra oral arch wire,

I. an interior space being defined between a portion of the socket and the extra oral arch wire,

2. the said portion of the socket being flared and the said interior space being tapered,

B. a spring retained on the extra oral arch wire,

1. the said spring having a first end and a second end,

2. said first end contacting the said socket and the second end being biased in the direction of the teeth,

3. the said first end of the spring being positioned within the space,

4. the said interior space being tapered in a direction facing away from the spring; and

C. means to retain the first end of the spring in contact with the socket,

l. the said means to retain including bent jaws, the said jaws being formed in the said flared portion of the socket.

5. In an extra oral arch spring force for use with an extra oral arch wire in moving a tooth, the combination of A. a socket associated with the extra oral arch wire,

1. an interior space being defined between a portion of the socket and the extra oral arch wire,

2. the said portion of the: socket being cylindrical and the said interior space being annular;

B. a spring retained on the extra oral arch wire,

1. said spring having a first end and a second end,

2. said first end contacting the said socket and the second end being biased in the direction of the tooth,

3. the said first end of the spring being positioned within the space and C. means to retain the first end of the spring in contact with the socket,

l. the said means to retain including bent jaws, the said bent jaws being formed in the said cylindrical portion of the socket.

6. The method of applying an extra oral spring force to move a tooth distally comprising the steps of A. affixing a tooth band equipped with a buccal tube to the tooth;

B. selecting an extra oral arch wire having a uniform outside diameter, forming a spring retaining socket having a hollow cylindrical portion of inside diameter equal to the outside diameter and sliding the spring retaining socket and a spring over the extra oral arch wire a sufficient distance to expose the anterior portion of the arch wire;

C. inserting the anterior portion into the buccal tube;

D. moving the socket and spring along the wire until the spring contacts the buccal tube, and noting the relative position of the parts;

E. removing the anterior portion from the buccal tube and moving the socket and spring from the noted position;

F. moving the socket and spring a predetermined distance and securing the socket to the extra oral arch wire; and

G. reinserting the anterior portion into the buccal tube and compressing the spring to apply an extra oral spring force upon the tooth.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the socket and the spring are moved a distance of approximately three to five millimeters from the noted position along the wire.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the socket and the spring are moved mcsially. 

1. In an extra oral arch spring force for use with an extra oral arch wire, in moving a tooth, the combination of A. a socket associated with the extra oral arch wire,
 1. said socket having a cylindrical portion in contact with the extra oral arch wire,
 2. the inside diameter of the cylindrical portion being the same as the outside diameter of the wire whereby the socket is in tight, sliding engagement over the wire; B. a spring retained on the extra oral arch wire,
 1. said spring having a first end and a second end,
 2. said first end contacting the said socket aNd the second end being biased in the direction of the tooth; and c. means to retain the first end of the spring in contact with the socket,
 1. the said means being integral with the socket.
 2. said first end contacting the said socket and the second end being biased in the direction of the tooth,
 2. the inside diameter of the cylindrical portion being the same as the outside diameter of the wire whereby the socket is in tight, sliding engagement over the wire; B. a spring retained on the extra oral arch wire,
 2. said first end contacting the said socket aNd the second end being biased in the direction of the tooth; and c. means to retain the first end of the spring in contact with the socket,
 2. The extra oral arch spring force of claim 1 wherein the said means to retain includes a flared portion formed in the socket, the first end of the spring being positioned within the flared portion.
 2. the said portion of the socket being cylindrical and the said interior space being annular; B. a spring retained on the extra oral arch wire,
 2. said first end contacting the said socket and the second end being biased in the direction of the tooth,
 2. the said portion of the socket being flared and the said interior space being tapered, B. a spring retained on the extra oral arch wire,
 3. the said first end of the spring being positioned within the space,
 3. The extra oral arch spring force of claim 2 wherein the said flared portion of the socket is endwardly bent to provide inwardly bent jaws, the said jaws engaging the spring at the first end to retain the spring in association with the socket.
 3. the said first end of the spring being positioned within the space and C. means to retain the first end of the spring in contact with the socket,
 4. In an extra oral arch spring force for use with an extra oral arch wire in moving a tooth, the combination of A. a socket associated with the extra oral arch wire,
 4. the said interior space being tapered in a direction facing away from the spring; and C. means to retain the first end of the spring in contact with the socket,
 5. In an extra oral arch spring force for use with an extra oral arch wire in moving a tooth, the combination of A. a socket associated with the extra oral arch wire,
 6. The method of applying an extra oral spring force to move a tooth distally comprising the steps of A. affixing a tooth band equipped with a buccal tube to the tooth; B. selecting an extra oral arch wire having a uniform outside diameter, forming a spring retaining socket having a hollow cylindrical portion of inside diameter equal to the outside diameter and sliding the spring retaining socket and a spring over the extra oral arch wire a sufficient distance to expose the anterior portion of the arch wire; C. inserting the anterior portion into the buccal tube; D. moving the socket and spring along the wire until the spring contacts the buccal tube, and noting the relative position of the parts; E. removing the anterior portion from the buccal tube and moving the socket and spring from the noted position; F. moving the socket and spring a predetermined distance and securing the socket to the extra oral arch wire; and G. reinserting the anterior portion into the buccal tube and compressing the spring to apply an extra oral spring force upon the tooth.
 7. The method of claim 6 wherein the socket and the spring are moved a distance of approximately three to five millimeters from the noted position along the wire.
 8. The method of claim 7 wherein the socket and the spring are moved mesially. 